Good morning from The National on January 15, 2026.
Here is your digest of what is making the headlines in the Emirates.
The UAE is a leader in securing water supplies efficiently and could be a "beacon" to the Middle East and the rest of the world, an expert has said.
Gary White, chief executive and co-founder of non-profit Water.org, spoke to The National before a talk on Thursday at the NYUAD Institute in Abu Dhabi, to explore ways to solve the global water crisis.
More than two billion people in the world are unsure where their next safe drinking water will come from. Some have to spend as much as 15 per cent of their income just to be to have access to water, Mr White said.
Read the full interview from John Dennehy here
Dubai schools warn parents about social media challenges posing ‘serious and immediate’ risks
Dubai's health and education authorities issued warnings that children are risking their safety by taking part in dangerous social media challenges.
Social media trends such as such as choking themselves and the so-called skull breaker challenge pose “serious and immediate risks” to children’s health and safety, said the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
“While schools are addressing this matter directly with students, parent partnership is essential to reinforce safety messages beyond the school environment,” said the KHDA.
“We strongly encourage you to attend this important session, as it will enhance your awareness of potential risks and empower you to take the necessary preventive measures to ensure the safety of your children,” read a DHA note to schools and parents.
Read more from Katy Gillett here
Hospitals in the UAE hit peak flu season as doctors say virus is worst in decade
Doctors are urging people to receive the flu vaccine as cases rise in numbers in UAE hospitals. Rates of influenza have been reported as surging around the globe, including in the US and Europe.
The elderly and people with compromised immunity or existing health problems are particularly vulnerable to the winter virus. In the US, there were more than 7,400 reported deaths related to flu so far during the 2025-2026 winter season.
“Unfortunately this season has shown that the flu has been a bit more aggressive, not necessarily in severity, but more in its rapid spread,” said Dr Salam Kashmoola, a family medicine consultant at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi.
“Potentially 2025 could be described as one of the worst seasons in over a decade."
The full report from Nick Webster is here
Fact of the day
Etihad Airways has been named the world’s safest airline. Read more here
Today's must-reads
Front page
See more of The National’s award-winning journalism in your Google search results – click here to add us to your preferred sources.
Did you enjoy this newsletter? The National produces newsletters across an array of subjects. You can sign up to them here.
